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Record of Proceedings

Chattanooga Beer Board Regular Meeting - November 20, 2025

City Council & City Boards — Thursday, November 20, 2025
BodyChattanooga, Tennessee
SessionCity Council & City Boards
DateThursday, November 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:28:51

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
6:28

Good morning.

6:28

I'd like to call this meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board to order.

6:32

And welcome to everyone.

6:35

All meeting attendees must sign in at the designated sign-in sheet to meet the requirements of the sunshine law.

6:41

Please at this time silence all of your electronic devices, either turn them off or mute them so we won't have any disruptions.

6:58

And please speak up.

7:01

First item on our agenda is uh a notation that on the October 2nd, 2025.

7:08

Uh there was no meeting because we did not have a quorum.

7:12

And then the second item is the approval of the minutes of November 6, 2025.

7:17

Is there a motion to approve those minutes?

7:20

So move.

7:21

All in favor of approving the minutes signify by saying aye.

7:25

Aye.

7:25

Opposed.

7:27

Okay.

7:29

All right.

7:29

Uh anyone wishing to come before the board today uh at this time the our court reporter will swear you in.

7:36

If you're going to come up and speak before the board, you need to be sworn in at this time.

7:47

Anybody that's going to be speaking to that one.

7:54

That the testimony you're doing today will be the truth.

7:57

And I think about the truth.

7:59

I do.

8:00

Very good.

8:02

Um we have uh beer applications approved by the regulatory.

8:08

We have none.

8:09

Do we have any to uh uh add to that list at this time that have been approved since this was published?

8:16

Uh yes, I believe so.

8:18

Um the TE 106, the Smart Music Project was actually approved.

8:25

And uh TE 108 was also approved as well.

8:34

Okay, so then that takes us to Smart Music Project, Christ Kindermart, Robert Davis organizers.

8:42

Anyone here for that group?

8:47

That was approved.

8:50

E107 was not approved yet.

8:54

Oh wait, it was just it was approved.

8:56

Oh, it is approved, Bertha.

8:58

I'm sorry.

8:58

Okay, didn't see you there.

9:01

All right, thank you.

9:02

Gotcha.

9:03

Uh TE 108 has been approved.

9:05

All right, so that takes all of the uh special permits.

9:09

All right, new beer applications.

9:12

Uh Bertha has uh first item is Heat and Cush LLC beer 1355.

9:20

Have any of these been approved?

9:26

Uh they weren't sworn in.

9:28

Yes, she was sitting there.

9:29

She doesn't stand out.

9:30

I agree with that.

9:35

They have or have not been approved.

9:38

They have.

9:39

They have been approved.

9:40

So that you don't need to come speak before us then unless we just they have been approved.

9:47

So you guys are already approved.

9:49

Yeah, you're approved and ready to go.

9:52

So I think we've got another question.

9:55

Or license.

10:13

Are you saying this is an old license?

10:15

Yeah.

10:16

Okay, and so you're one to surrender it.

10:18

Yes, the new line.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Beer Board Regulations████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Parking Management███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Planning And Zoning███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Chattanooga Beer Board Regular Meeting - November 20, 2025

The Chattanooga Beer Board convened on November 20, 2025, to approve minutes, review beer permit applications, and address ongoing compliance issues at several establishments. Key discussions focused on a citation at Cabana, an investigation into Shady Corner (which has drawn over 500 police calls), and parking and hours concerns at Let's Paint. The board voted to authorize a comprehensive investigation into Shady Corner's operations.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The board approved the minutes from the November 6, 2025 meeting unanimously.
  • Special Permits (TE 106, TE 108): Both the Smart Music Project (Christ Kindermart, organizer Robert Davis) and TE 108 were approved by regulatory staff and noted as approved.
  • New Beer Applications:
    • Heat and Cush LLC: Application for beer at 1355 [street name not specified] was approved; this represents a change of ownership from the former Frank's grocery.
    • J Hot Ma doing business as NAPCO #876: Application for carry-out beer at 200 Browns Ferry Road was approved by regulatory after confirming sales were still occurring within six months, making proximity to a protected property irrelevant.
    • Summit Art Ink doing business as Arlery (Curtis Anderson): Application at 516 East Main Street (corrected from 74 Stop View) was held up by a failed fire inspection. The applicant provided evidence of re-inspection, which legal staff confirmed, and the application was approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public addressed the board during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

  • Violation Update (from October 16 meeting): The fine for Circle K has been paid; it was noted that the violation form clearly states payment is due within seven days.
  • Regulatory Visits (from November 6 meeting request): Sergeant Cowan reported on follow-up visits to Cabana, Shady Corner, and Let's Paint:
    • Cabana: Their beer permit expired December 31, 2024. Despite being asked to renew, they continued selling beer. Sergeant Cowan issued a citation for operating without a permit, with a hearing set for December 18, 2025. The establishment still holds a valid ABC license for liquor, so it remains open but cannot sell beer.
    • Shady Corner: Under new ownership (Dwayne France and Robin, permit approved September 3, 2025). The property has only seven parking spots, leading to overflow parking in adjacent residential areas. In 2025 alone, there have been 269 police calls; historically over 500 calls. Sergeant Cowan noted the new owner has not responded to his outreach. The board discussed whether to pursue a citation for operating a disorderly business, taking into account the new ownership and the need for evidence of violations.
    • Let's Paint: Has a similar parking issue; only three dedicated spots with the rest being paid parking. Operating hours listed on the permit (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) may conflict with actual late-night operations, though the ordinance only requires alcohol sales to cease by 3 a.m. No immediate enforcement action was taken.
  • Zoning and Parking: Board members discussed the new Commercial Mixed Use (CMU) zoning code and its parking requirements, referencing Section 3852 of the zoning code. It was noted that the code does not directly address existing businesses' operational parking issues.
  • Beer Permit Renewal and Distribution: A distributor (Eddie Davis of Tri Star Beverage) explained that his company will not sell beer to a permittee without a valid permit. The board discussed how to coordinate among all distributors to prevent sales to expired permit holders.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Investigate Shady Corner: The board passed an amended motion (vote: Christy - yes, Brooke - yes, Ronica - yes, Ron - yes, JW - yes, Reginald - yes, Betsy - yes, Zach - yes, Chair - yes) directing Sergeant Cowan to conduct a comprehensive investigation into over-serving intoxicated individuals and operating a disorderly business at Shady Corner, including historical records and testimony from the previous meeting. He may issue citations based on evidence.
  • Rescheduled Meeting: The board voted to move the January 1, 2026 meeting to January 8, 2026 (subject to room availability). All members voted in favor.
  • Other: A beer violation case was postponed to December 18, 2025 because the hearing officer was unavailable.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. I'd like to call this meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board to order. And welcome to everyone. All meeting attendees must sign in at the designated sign-in sheet to meet the requirements of the sunshine law. Please at this time silence all of your electronic devices, either turn them off or mute them so we won't have any disruptions. And please speak up. First item on our agenda is uh a notation that on the October 2nd, 2025. Uh there was no meeting because we did not have a quorum. And then the second item is the approval of the minutes of November 6, 2025. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? So move. All in favor of approving the minutes signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Okay. All right. Uh anyone wishing to come before the board today uh at this time the our court reporter will swear you in. If you're going to come up and speak before the board, you need to be sworn in at this time. Anybody that's going to be speaking to that one. That the testimony you're doing today will be the truth. And I think about the truth. I do. Very good. Um we have uh beer applications approved by the regulatory. We have none. Do we have any to uh uh add to that list at this time that have been approved since this was published? Uh yes, I believe so. Um the TE 106, the Smart Music Project was actually approved. And uh TE 108 was also approved as well. Okay, so then that takes us to Smart Music Project, Christ Kindermart, Robert Davis organizers. Anyone here for that group? That was approved. E107 was not approved yet. Oh wait, it was just it was approved. Oh, it is approved, Bertha. I'm sorry. Okay, didn't see you there. All right, thank you. Gotcha. Uh TE 108 has been approved. All right, so that takes all of the uh special permits. All right, new beer applications. Uh Bertha has uh first item is Heat and Cush LLC beer 1355. Have any of these been approved? Uh they weren't sworn in. Yes, she was sitting there. She doesn't stand out. I agree with that. They have or have not been approved. They have.

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